Comprehensive Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice PlanPage 2 of 31I. Introduction: Lake County Juvenile Justice System At the beginning of 2017, the Lake County Probation Department began

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Comprehensive Multi-Agency

Juvenile Justice Plan

2017

County of Lake

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Table of Contents

Section I: Lake County Juvenile Justice System……………………………………………………… 2

Vision Statement……………………………………………………………. 2

Mission Statement…………………………………………………………...

Strategies and Focus Areas………………………………………………….

Recent History of Lake County’s Juvenile Justice System…………………

Stakeholders…………………………………………………………………

Shared Vision – Developing a Plan of Action………………………………

Guiding Principles…………………………………………………………..

Section II: Lake County’s Existing Juvenile Justice System Services ………………………………..

Accomplishments……………………………………………………………

Programs……………………………………………………………………..

Prevention…………………………………………………..

Intervention…………………………………………………

Supervision…………………………………………………

Treatment…………………………………………………..

Custody…………………………………………………….

Section III: Strengths, Opportunities and Emerging Issues for Growth…………………………………...

Strengths…………………………………………………………………….

Opportunities………………………………………………………………...

Emerging Issues……………………………………………………………..

Table of Contents

Section I: Introduction: Lake County Juvenile Justice System……………………...… 2 1.1 Vision Statement…………...……………………………..…. 2 1.2 Mission Statement…………………………...………............. 2 1.3 Recent History of Lake County’s Juvenile Justice System….. 3 1.4 Strategies and Focus Areas …………………………………. 7 1.5 Stakeholders………………………………………….……… 10 1.6 Shared Vision – Developing a Plan of Action…………….… 11 Section II: Lake County’s Existing Juvenile Justice System Services ……………...….. 13 2.1 Accomplishments & Programs……..……………………..… 13 2.2 Identification & Prioritization……..………………………… 20 Section III: Strengths, Opportunities and Forward Focus....…………………………… 27 3.1 Strengths…………………….….………………...…………. 27 3.2 Opportunities…………………..……………………..……... 28 3.3 Forward Focus…………...…..……………………………… 30

LAKE COUNTY 2017 COMPREHENSIVE MULTI-AGENCY JUVENILE JUSTICE PLAN

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I. Introduction: Lake County Juvenile Justice System At the beginning of 2017, the Lake County Probation Department began the process of

revising the 2001 Comprehensive Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Plan as outlined in Welfare

and Institutions Code sections 749.21-749.22. This new, consolidated plan addresses the

continuum of juvenile justice including prevention, intervention, supervision, treatment, and

incarceration. This plan includes an assessment of local and regional resources currently

available to at-risk juveniles, juvenile offenders, and their families. This plan also identifies and

prioritizes neighborhoods, schools, and other areas in the community.

Since 2009, Lake County’s Juvenile Justice Stakeholders have been committed to

implementing evidence-based approaches and promising practices to promote positive youth

development and prevent juvenile delinquency. This plan identifies programs and provides a

strategy on how to better capture measured outcomes to improve results. The Lake County

Probation Department commissioned a planning workgroup to review and add information for

the Lake County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council’s consideration in creating this plan.

The Council then considered and adopted the following.

1.1 Vision Statement

To have successful programs in place, ready to meet the needs of every minor and

family that require services; to address the needs of all victims; to be a catalyst among counties

for low recidivism rates; and to ensure a safe community.

1.2 Mission Statement

Creating a safer community by strengthening families, providing support to victims,

and making a positive difference in the lives of youth.

I. LAKE COUNTY 2017 CMJJP – Section I – Introduction

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1.3 Recent History of Lake County’s Juvenile Justice System

2009-2010 – The Lake County Juvenile Justice Division underwent many significant changes

from 2009-2010. These changes included:

A. Introduction of Risk Assessment Instruments

Two risk assessment instruments were implemented to provide uniformity and

objectivity in screening and assessing minors entering probation. A year was spent training

all Probation Officers (PO) to use the Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT)

effectively to produce uniform results:

a. 2010 – Current: Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (DRAI)

A tool implemented to create a non-discretional method of assessment to

determine custody status at the time the youth is brought to Juvenile Hall.

b. 2010 – Current: Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT)

An instrument designed to assess criminogenic needs, assign risk level to

juveniles, and provide information about services that are appropriate based on

the minor’s needs and family input. A case plan is created for each minor based

on this assessment.

B. Beginning of New Practices

Promising Practices and Evidence Based Practices (EBP) were just beginning to make

their way into Lake County during 2010; unfortunately, too many practices were started at

the same time making it difficult to provide the staff with adequate training and knowledge

as to why the practices would be effective.

Most of the practices that were implemented during 2010 were short-lived due to poor

implementation caused from low staff numbers and inadequate training.


II.

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Some of the first EBP programs that were implemented in Lake County were:

a. 2010 - Current: Case Plan

Each youth has a Case Plan created with the youth and family to address the

needs of the youth and family. The goal is to develop the best way to eliminate

those needs in order to enable the youth to live a life free of criminal activity and to

be successful. Case planning is still in practice. Each youth has their case plan

updated at least every six months.

b. 2010 – 2012: Courage to Change - EBP Program

Courage to Change succeeded to build a rapport between minors and staff. The

program covered multiple topics including self-control, social values, and peer

relationship. The program ended because of poor training, low staff numbers, and a

time consuming delivery that took place off-location, which was difficult to

complete with the staffing levels at the time.

c. 2012-2013: Aggression Replacement Therapy (ART) - EBP Program

ART is an EBP Program that was successful due to the fact that it had effective

instructors that created positive engagement. The program ended due to the trainer

leaving the Probation Department, low staff numbers, and because it was also time

consuming.

C. Lasting Practices

Promising Practices that were implemented during 2010 that are still in place today

are Case Plans, Probation Family Pro and Wraparound. Probation Family Pro and

Wraparound had some implementation difficulties but have been successful in part due

to fact that they are better alternatives than Juvenile Hall and placement/foster care.


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Educating the court system and attorneys about the programs has also helped with their

success.

In 2016, the Juvenile Division began using a reward/sanctions matrix in order to

consistently motivate youth to comply with their terms and conditions of probation.

The use of the matrix ensures that all youth are treated equally related to their

compliance, and that rewards and sanctions are used in a graduated manner.

D. Internal Department Changes

During 2008, the Lake County Chief Probation Officer retired. Following his

departure, there were four years of quick turnover in the position. Another critical blow

to the Probation Department was the loss of five trained staff between 2010 and 2012

to Sonoma County for higher wages. The departure of so many employees left the

division understaffed and in a reactionary state for the next few years.

There were also several policy changes that contributed not only to the change in

the protocol of the division, but also to a shift in mindset and approach to juvenile

offenders. Where previous policies were punitive-based and focused only on the minor,

new policies were constructed to assist the minor and focus on the family unit. By

shifting the focus from the minor to the family, it provided for greater cooperation

between agencies.


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E. 2010-Current

The Lake County Probation Department Juvenile Division has made

substantial strides in the Juvenile Justice System of Lake County.

a. Lake County Juvenile Hall

The introduction of risk assessment instruments changed the course of the Lake

County Juvenile Hall. In 2010, the DRAI and PACT were implemented and, for the

first time, Lake County used uniform and unbiased risk assessment for all minors

entering probation. The instruments also established criminogenic needs and

assigned a ‘low’, ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ risk level to reoffend. It was these tools that

ultimately took the population of Juvenile Hall from 30-40 occupancy to 10-20.

(Chart retrieved from

http://public.tableau.com/views/CaliforniaJuvenileFacilities/Introduction?%3Aembed=y&%3

AshowVizHome=no&%3Adisplay_count=y&%3Adisplay_static_image=y&%3Abootstrap

WhenNotified=true ).

The chart above shows the population of the Lake County Juvenile Hall

from 2002 to 2015. Beginning in 2009, the occupancy of the Juvenile Hall

began to dip into very low numbers and never reached the 30-40 occupancy

range again. The decrease in occupancy is attributed to the DRAI and PACT

assessment tools. With these tools, only those youth that committed the most


http://public.tableau.com/views/CaliforniaJuvenileFacilities/Introduction?%3Aembed=y&%253

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serious or multiple offenses and refused to participate in probation programs

were detained in Juvenile Hall.

The Lake County Juvenile Hall closed in October of 2015 due to low

occupancy. It was clear from the numbers that it was not cost-effective to

provide a full working staff when occupancy was only at six to ten minors.

Lake County now contracts with Mendocino County to care for confined youth.

1.4 Strategies and Focus Areas

A. Strategies

a. Programs

Our program strategy is to focus on improving the results of Evidence-Based

Practices (EBP) and Promising Practices, which will be accomplished through the

following steps:

1. Identifying target populations in probation that have increased recidivism

rates.

2. Identifying what programs or services are currently in place to meet the

needs of this population.

3. If services are being delivered to this population, then a more thorough

examination of their application will be reviewed.

4. If the population is not being targeted for services, then a review of

which services and programs in existence could be applied to assist this

population in reducing their recidivism rates.

5. If there are no programs or services in existence that would benefit this

population, then research will be conducted through Results First

Clearinghouse to identify an EBP that would effectively target this

population and help reduce their recidivism.


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b. Stakeholders

In order to gain more support among community stakeholders, it is important to

include them in the conversation. One strategy that has already been implemented

is a quarterly newsletter that provides current information on what programs and

activities the Probation Department and other organizations are currently providing

to minors. The goal is to take this form of communication and turn it into a

conversation. By engaging stakeholders, the aim is to rally support for new

activities and areas that the stakeholders will be able to contribute.

B. Focus Areas

a. Spanish-speaking Families

An important focus area is determining how to better serve the Spanish-speaking

population of Lake County. Our focus will be to encourage our providers to obtain

more Spanish-speaking employees to assist the Latino community in Lake County.

b. Alcohol & Other Drug Services (AODS)

Currently, AODS provides a small window of time during the day that they offer

services to juveniles on probation which coincides with normal school hours. The

location of the services can make it very difficult for juveniles living in further parts of

Lake County to benefit from the services provided and meet the requirements of their

probation. A focus would be to work with AODS to reach a common ground where all

minors that require these services can receive them.

c. Mental Health Services

Lake County Behavioral Health and the Probation Department have made a lot of

progress in building their relationship. One important focus will be to continue to

nurture the relationship between the two entities in hopes to produce faster assessments


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and increase access to medication management, psychiatrists, and therapists.

Additionally, relationships with other providers will be developed in order to provide

in-patient treatment for high risk mental health juveniles.

d. Gang Prevention

Gang prevention has become a focus in recent years. The Probation Department,

Sheriff’s Department, and Redwood Community Services are considering collaborating

to evaluate and implement an education-based prevention program for youth located in

areas where gang recruitment is prevalent. It is hoped that other entities and school

districts will consider joining this collaboration once the prevention program has been

chosen.

e. Sex Offender Treatment Options

There are currently no treatment programs available in Lake County for the

juvenile sex offender population. In order to receive treatment, these youth must drive

to Sacramento, a four plus hour round trip drive, once a week and pay for the treatment

program. This can be an extreme financial hardship for families. When a family cannot

afford to access this treatment, or if the victim is in the family home, the youth is sent

to out-of-home placement for treatment. Future focus will be placed on programs that

can be established within the county to meet the requirements of this population’s

needs. Once a local program can be created, it is hoped that local Resource Family

Homes will be increased, so youth who have their victims in their family home can still

stay in Lake County for rehabilitation.


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1.5 Stakeholders

The primary and secondary stakeholders for the 2017 Lake County Comprehensive Multi-Agency

Juvenile Justice Plan are:


II.

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1.6 Shared Vision –Developing a Plan of Action

The four main areas of focus for the Comprehensive Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Plan (CMJJP)

are to engage, assess, problem solve, and implement:

A. Engage

An important strategy of the CMJJP is to involve and engage as many agencies as

possible in order to increase the accountability and flexibility of the plan. Increasing the

number of participating agencies will provide more opportunities for them to collaborate on

ways to solve the current issues that face the at-risk and juvenile offender populations in

Lake County. The Probation Department and Child Welfare Services hold periodic

stakeholder meetings to engage and provide information to stakeholders. The Probation

Department also sends out a quarterly newsletter with information about their progress and

success with the juvenile probation population. Additionally, the Probation Department’s

website provides relevant information about the Juvenile Division.

B. Assess

The CMJJP will be a living document that will need to evolve as the juvenile

population of Lake County evolves. As new generations emerge, the CMJJP will need to

continually assess and evaluate the needs of the youth population in order to ensure

programs are continuing to meet their goals, if the programs need to be adjusted, or if new

goals need to be created. Assessing programs will be an ongoing process where data will

constantly be collected and analyzed. All assessment results and statistics should be filtered

out to agencies involved to ensure everyone is receiving the same information needed to

move forward. Currently, data is being collected and assessed related to Family WRAP

Programs, placement numbers, and at-risk youth. An analyst has been hired by the

Probation Department to continue data collection and assess all programs in use.


II.

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C. Problem Solve

Once information on the assessed topic has been circulated among the agencies, a team

will be created to attempt to come up with services to solve the issue. Problem solving

should include how to strengthen or implement a new resource that might be effective at

preventing future juvenile crimes, strengthening programs/activities, and reducing

recidivism rates in the youth population. Problem solving is a very important step that

should include all agencies interested in playing an active role in implementing the

solution(s).

D. Implement

Once a solution has been developed through multiple-agency problem solving, the next

step is selecting the work group to implement it. The agencies that created the solution

should lead the implementation; this could include hiring an outside agency. It is important

to evaluate and document the steps taken from obtaining a solution to the implementation

in order to gauge the process. Once implemented, further evaluations will be conducted in

order to find out how effective the solution was at servicing the target population and if

changes should be considered.


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II. Lake County’s Existing Juvenile Justice System Services

The Lake County Probation Department has done well at providing multiple services and

supports to at-risk and juvenile offender populations. The Department continually strives to

find ways to improve their services.

2.1 Accomplishments

Many agencies in Lake County currently provide great resources and services that cover a

wide range of needs, including prevention, intervention, supervision, treatment and

incarceration.

A. Program/Activity – Area(s) of Focus – Contracting Organization(s)

Many programs, activities, projects and services offered in Lake County are very

successful and others are being continuously worked on and improved. Below are the

services and resources provided in Lake County that specifically target at-risk juveniles,

juvenile offenders, and their families.

a. Healthy Start – Prevention – Lake County Office of Education (LCOE)

Healthy Start is a statewide initiative placing comprehensive support services for

children and families at individual school sites. It gives schools, in partnership with

public and private service providers, a unique opportunity to restructure systems to

better meet the needs of children and families. Healthy Start offers a wide variety of

services that focus on supporting academic success and building personal strengths for

children, youth and families. Healthy Start assists students so they come to school

ready to learn.

II. LAKE COUNTY 2017 CMJJP – Section II – Existing Juvenile Justice System Services

Introduction: Lake County Juvenile Justice System

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b. LUSD Family Night – Prevention – Lakeport Unified School District (LUSD)/

RCS/Healthy Start

LUSD Family Night is an annual event that began in 2014 and is on its third year.

The event begins with a meal then families participate in a creative project together,

and a parenting lesson is provided.

c. Lake County Sheriff’s Activities League (LCSAL) – Prevention – Lake County

Sheriff’s Office (LCSO)

1. U.S.A. Boxing: This is a coeducational activity for students 8 years to 18 years.

The program is designed to promote physical fitness, self-defense, and respect

for others. Coaches are trained and certified through USA Boxing. Students

work out two times per week. Competition is optional. Students must pass a

physical examination before beginning training.

2. Junior Giants: The Jr. Giants Program, funded by the Giants Community

Foundation, offers eight weeks of programming for students, ages 5 to 18.

Practices are held two times each week during the summer. Participants learn

about leadership, teamwork, and other valuable life skills.

3. Lake Kayaking: LCSAL offers kayaking to students ages 11 to 18.

d. CA PREP (CA Personal Responsibility Education Program – teen pregnancy

prevention) – Prevention – Lake Family Resource Center (LFRC)

The CA Personal Responsibility Education Program (CA PREP) offers the opportunity

to collaborate with our local schools and provide pregnancy prevention education including

HIV/STD awareness to 8th graders. The program utilizes the ‘Making a Difference!”

curriculum designed to empower adolescents to change their behavior in ways that will

reduce their risk of becoming (or getting) someone pregnant, and becoming infected with



III. Introduction: Lake County Juvenile Justice System

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an STD or HIV. Specifically, this curriculum advocates postponing sexual activity and

emphasizes that abstinence is the only way to completely eliminate the risk of

pregnancy, STDs and HIV.

e. Start Smart Program – Prevention – California Highway Patrol (CHP)

Lake County’s CHP office in Kelseyville is dedicated to reducing the amount of

teen deaths and injuries that occur as a result of traffic collisions. The program is

funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The CHP office in Kelseyville hosts free, two-hour driving safety classes each

year. Participants in the Start Smart class are teenagers and their parents. The class also

covers parental responsibilities, defensive driving and collision avoidance techniques,

like appropriate space cushions. All minors who receive traffic citations are referred to

the Start Smart Program.

f. 3rd Millennium – Prevention – Probation

3rd Millennium is a program that offers online education to parents and minors.

There is a course for parents that is free and provides tools that will help with

discipline. The cost for a minor to enroll is $60.00 and courses cover topics like

cannabis, alcohol, shoplifting and more. 3rd Millennium is designed for minors with

lessor crimes as a way to help educate them to make better decisions in the future and

keep them from going deeper into the Juvenile Justice System.

g. Probation Family PRO - Prevention – Healthy Start

Probation Family PRO is a referral program for youth who had their first contact

with probation. The Probation Department refers the youth to Healthy Start. Healthy

Start works with the family and assists them with finding resources, supports, and to

develop coping strategies that will allow the parents to parent effectively, even under



II. Introduction: Lake County Juvenile Justice System

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stress. Case management, including the development of a family goal assessment

and case plan is used and structured around the “protective factors”. Healthy Start and

the Probation Department monitor the youth’s success and the youth’s probation case is

then closed upon successful completion.

h. Nurturing Parenting – Prevention/Intervention – Lake Family Resource Center (LFRC)

The Nurturing Parenting programs are a family-centered initiative designed to

build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive and neglecting parenting

and child-rearing practices. The long term goals are to prevent recidivism in families

receiving social services, lower the rate of multi-parent teenage pregnancies, reduce the

rate of juvenile delinquency and alcohol abuse, and stop the intergenerational cycle of

child abuse by teaching positive parenting behaviors.

The programs feature activities to foster positive parenting skills and self-nurturing,

home practice exercises, family nurturing time, and activities to promote positive brain

development in children birth to 18 years. Lessons can be delivered in a home-based

setting, group-based setting, or combination of home and group settings.

Parents and children attend separate groups that meet concurrently designed to

build self-awareness, positive concept/self-esteem and build levels of empathy; teach

alternatives to hitting and yelling; enhance family communication and awareness of

needs; replace abusive behaviors with nurturing behaviors; promote healthy physical

and emotional development; and teach appropriate role and developmental

expectations.

i. Surviving Parenting – Prevention/Intervention – Probation, RCS

The Surviving Parenting Program is an EBP Program that helps parents gain the

tools they need to build a disciplined and rewarding relationship with their youth. The



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program provides workshops to adults in a structured environment where they can

receive the education they need to build skills in communication and discipline.

j. Lake County Behavioral Health and Alcohol & Other Drug Services (AODS) –

Prevention/Intervention/ Supervision/Treatment – Lake County Behavioral Health

Mental Health services are designed to provide strong community-based

partnerships with individuals and families who are dealing with serious mental illness,

including those who have co-occurring (mental health and substances abuse) disorders.

Recovery-oriented services include assistance with establishing stable housing, access

to physical health care, medications management, trauma-informed counseling and

peer supports. Behavioral Health assists with management of mental health crises for

all members of the community and provides for inpatient or temporary residential care

as appropriate.

AODS provides comprehensive, quality services and supports to community

members in recovery from serious mental health and/or substance use disorders. For

youth, AODS offers individual and group counseling related to substance use and

abuse.

k. Behavioral Health & AODS Counseling for Youth – Prevention/Intervention/

Supervision/Treatment -Lake County Tribal Health (LCTH)

The goal of the Tribal Health Human Services Department is to provide culturally

relevant comprehensive services including the incorporation of traditional practices,

adult and family behavioral health counseling and support, alcohol and other drug

services, and children’s treatment services to Native American and Alaska Native

persons within the context of a community-based primary care health center. Native

youth are referred to Tribal Health to participate in these services.



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l. Family WRAP- Prevention/Intervention – Probation, CWS, RCS

Family WRAP is a shortened version of Wraparound which is intended to focus on

the criminogenic need of current living arrangements rather than all of the needs of the

youth and family. The program is intended to last 90 to 120 days and is being used

with minors & families who have not been involved with probation previously. The

program was implemented in March of 2015 and has already helped 43 families and

has had graduated 19 minors.

(Picture: Kevin O’Brien, Deputy Probation Officer,

instructs Child & Family Teaming for local

stakeholders).

m. Summer Program – Prevention/Intervention/Supervision – Probation/RCS

Probation and RCS held their 1st Annual Exploring Horizons Summer Program for

12 juveniles in 2016. The program was filled with fun sports activities, and the youth

were also able to receive training in first aid, CPR, and employment readiness skills.

The program generated a lot of positive feedback and will continue in the summer of

2017. (Pictures below are from the 2016 Summer Program)

n. Wraparound - Prevention/Intervention/Supervision – Probation, CWS, RCS

The mission of Wraparound is to keep children at home with those who love them

and know them the best by linking families with community supports. Wraparound was



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implemented in Lake County on October 1st, 2010 and has been one of the most

successful programs run.

Probation and Child Welfare Services contract with RCS for this program. For

probation referred youth and families, this program can last from 6 months up to 18

months and assist the family with a variety of issues including homelessness, family

conflict, and family therapy. The family creates a family team and has the assistance of

a Care Coordinator who leads the team, a Skills Coach who provides one-on-one

assistance to the youth, and a Parent Partner that works one-on-one with the parents.

o. Mendocino County Juvenile Hall – Custody/Detention – Mendocino County

Lake County Probation contracts with Mendocino County for Juvenile Hall

services. The primary function of the Mendocino County Juvenile Hall is to provide

for the physical and emotional care of confined youth pursuant to California Code of

Regulations, Title 15 and Title 24 standards. Youth can be detained in juvenile hall

pending their Juvenile Court Hearings, while they are serving short-term commitments

or awaiting out-of-home placement in a foster/group home, camp or other institution.

The Mendocino County Juvenile Hall houses up to 40 youths, and as mandated, it

is operated with as homelike an environment as possible. This includes providing

education, food, clothing, and personal hygiene items, as well as medical, psychiatric,

and dental services. Additionally, youth in MCJH can access AA/NA meetings, yoga

classes, martial arts classes, and CHP Start Smart classes.

p. New Horizons - Intervention/Treatment/Incarceration – Humboldt County Probation

Lake County Probation contracts with Humboldt County for the few extreme

mental health cases where group home care is not suitable. Treatment services include

a combination of medication support; individual, group, and family counseling;



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alcohol/drug assessment and counseling; skill development training on anger

management; moral judgement, correction of thinking errors, social skills, and victim

awareness.

2.2 Identification & Prioritization

The identification and prioritization of areas in Lake County that face significant public safety

risk from juvenile crime (gang activity, daylight burglary, late-night robbery, vandalism, truancy,

controlled substances sales, firearm-related violence, and juvenile substance abuse and alcohol use)

are listed below.

A. Neighborhoods

The chart above shows that in the last two years the majority of juveniles on probation and

entering into probation live in Clearlake, Kelseyville and Lakeport.



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The chart above shows the total population for each specific city/town by ZIP Code.



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When the percentages of the two current populations are compared, as seen in the chart

above, they are very similar, leading the viewer to believe that in Lake County there is a

correlation between the size of the population and the size of the of juvenile population on

probation; with the exception of Kelseyville and Upper Lake, which show the biggest

contrasts. Further research will be completed to evaluate if the low population of juveniles

on probation in Upper Lake is related to the School Resource Officer (SRO) that Upper

Lake Union High School has hired from the Probation Department.

The chart above shows what percentage of the current population is on juvenile

probation. Unlike the visual in the prior charts, this demonstrates that Kelseyville has the

largest percentage of juveniles on probation, next is Clearlake Oaks and then Lakeport. It is

important to note that even though the percentages for these areas look intimidating, the

majority of juveniles on probation make up less than one percent of the entire population

for these areas. From this information, we will discuss the possibility of setting a goal to

keep the population of juveniles on probation to .30% of the total population for each ZIP

Code, and what kind of resources and services are needed in the areas that have the highest

percentages of juveniles on probation.



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a. Clearlake

Clearlake is the largest populated area in Lake County. Over 40% of all

juveniles that have entered probation in the last two years live in this area. Many

resources are allocated to this section of Lake County due to the population.

Clearlake is a constant focus area for the Juvenile Justice Council, working

continuously to find resources to accommodate the needs of the minors and

families that reside there.

b. Kelseyville

Kelseyville’s juvenile crime rate has increased in the last few years. More gang

activity and vandalism has been witnessed than ever before. Steps are being taken

to look into gang prevention and other programs that might reduce crime in the

neighborhoods.

B. Schools

The alternative schools in Lake County with the largest number of probation youth

include: Blue Heron, Carle’ Continuation High School, Highlands Academy, Natural High

School, and Llyod P. Hance Community School. Alternative schools in Lake County

collectively hold the majority of juveniles on probation.



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The chart above shows where the current populations of juveniles on probation are

attending school or went to school prior to placement. Schools that only had one or two

juveniles on probation were not included. All mainstream high schools were included that

had juveniles on probation except Clear Lake High School which currently has one

juvenile on probation.

The chart also shows that the majority of juveniles on probation attend Lower Lake

High School (LLHS). The schools with the next largest probation populations are all

alternative education schools with Kelseyville High School pulling in the next biggest

juvenile probation population among mainstream high schools.

a. Lower Lake High School (LLHS)

With an approximate population of 827 students currently in attendance, LLHS

serves the largest population of juveniles in the county. It educates 8th through 12th

grade students. Students attending LLHS live in Lower Lake, Clearlake Oaks, and



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1

Clearlake; areas that house the largest number of juveniles on probation and youths

that are at-risk. Due to the size of the school and the fact that many areas in

proximity of the school have high crime rates, this school is a focus for attention,

resources, and programs that are being offered.

b. Blue Heron High School

Blue Heron is an opportunity school in the Konocti Unified School District for

students in grades 9-12. Students that attend Blue Heron cannot receive a diploma

but can use it as a stepping stone back into high school or adult school.

c. Carle’ Continuation High School

Founded in 1978, Carle’ Continuation High School educates students who are

between the ages of 16 – 18 years of age and predominantly in grades 10-12. The

mission of Carle’ High School is to provide an alternative educational setting that

allows students to take charge of their own education, establish a post-high school

plan, and become contributing members of society.

d. Highlands Academy

Highlands Academy is a community day school in the Konocti Unified School

District for students 8th grade and below. 43% of all students at Highlands

Academy are designated learning disabled, which is much higher than the median

across all reported elementary schools in California (10%) (Retrieved from

http://public-schools.startclass.com/l/9327/Highlands-Academy#Program%20

Enrollment &s=X3Wiz ).



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e. Lloyd P. Hance Community School

LCOE alternative learning environment for middle and high school students

(grades 7-12) who are experiencing difficulties in a traditional school setting or

who are exhibiting negative behavior patterns in school or in the community. The

program serves students who have been expelled from school, identified as

habitually truant by a Student Attendance Review Board, placed on probation by

the court, or otherwise referred by a school district, probation, or social service

agency. The emphasis of the program is to reestablish the educational direction of

students and to transition them to a regular school setting or other learning

environment that meets their needs. Counseling and other support services are

provided by public and community agencies. Independent Study is another option

available to students who have specific educational needs, work interests, personal

issues and/or family obligations that preclude success in a daily classroom setting.

C. Rancherias

Establishing better relationships with Lake County Tribal leaders is an ongoing goal for

the Council. Some rancherias are currently making substantial progress, like Big Valley, in

implementing new programs and services to better accommodate their juvenile population.

There continue to be rancherias that have a higher rate of juvenile crime than others, and

reaching out to these rancherias to form a better relationship through sharing resources and

services could prove to be beneficial for their juvenile populations.

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Round Tables are a great place to start a

discussion and will hopefully provide more insight into the culture and traditions of each

rancheria. By initiating more dialogue and collaboration, agencies currently serving

juveniles on probation will be able to share their knowledge with local rancherias to assist

them in benefiting this population.



Page 27 of 31

III. Strengths, Opportunities and Emerging Issues for Growth

3.1 Strengths

The strengths of the Lake County Juvenile Justice Plan rely heavily on the initiation and

follow-through of the agencies involved. It is a credit to these agencies that the juvenile system

has come this far in Lake County.

A. Lake County Probation Department

The most important strength of the Probation Department’s Juvenile Division is their

staff. All staff members have over two years of experience working with youth and are

well-trained in working with minors. The staff’s genuine interest in working with juveniles

is what drives them to reach their goals. Continuous training and involvement in the

community help the staff value the goals of EBP and push to implement programs that are

beneficial to new populations of juveniles on probation. Staff are encouraged to be active in

the community. Many staff members volunteer with pro-social youth programs such as

school sports, youth community sports programs, Boy Scouts, and the 4-H Youth

Development Program.

B. Programs

The strongest programs being offered in Lake County that target at-risk and juvenile

offenders are: Wraparound, Family Wrap, Probation Family Pro and Surviving Parenting.

Some of these programs are implemented by more than one agency and require a joint

effort to produce effective support and resources to the minors and families being served.

C. Agency Collaboration

The strongest agency collaboration exists between the Probation Division, Redwood

Community Services (RCS), Child Welfare Services (CWS), Behavioral Health (BH), and

Lake County Office of Education. All agencies work together to provide various programs

III. LAKE COUNTY 2017 CMJJP – Section III – Strengths, Opportunities, and Forward


Page 28 of 31

and offer resources that specifically target at-risk juveniles, juvenile offenders, and their

families. The multi-agency effort is one of the main factors as to why the current programs

are successful.

D. Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) & Promising Practices:

EBP programs provide strength to the division by producing positive results that can be

measured and shared. As Lake County continues to implement practices based on

successful data, it is hoped that recidivism rates will drop.

E. School Resource Officer (SRO):

Deputy Probation Officers can act as a School Resource Officer (SRO) after

completing a one week course. For the past two and a half years, the Probation Department

has contracted with the Upper Lake Unified School District to have a School Resource

Officer work on their campuses. In this capacity, the SRO handles crimes that occur on any

campus, counsels students with discipline issues, collaborates with the School District on

safety plans, and does classroom presentations. Out of all of the school districts in Lake

County, Upper Lake has the smallest portion of juveniles on probation, which lends

significant credibility to the value of the presence of a Probation Department SRO on

campus.

3.2 Opportunities

A. Increasing Agency Collaboration

4-H Youth Development and Boy Scouts have both expressed interest in working with

the Probation Department to improve the lives of troubled youth. Working with these non-

profit organizations could create an opportunity to gain more support and grant funding.



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B. New Programs

Two new programs that the Probation Department is focused on implementing are

Girls Circle and Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT). Currently, they are both on hold

because of staff-related issues. These programs are currently still planned to start by the

end of 2017 which creates a future opportunity for success.

C. New Analyst

The Probation Department has recently hired a new analyst in hopes it will be able to

capture the data needed to help assess existing programs in order to make them more

effective. The opportunity to view needed statistical information could also contribute to

the greater pool of knowledge for EBPs and Promising Practices concerning rural counties.

D. School Resource Officer (SRO) Out Reach

Due to the positive effects witnessed from a SRO’s presence on the Upper Lake Union

High School campus, the Council is encouraging the Probation Department to reach out to

other schools that might benefit from this service. There currently seems to be a significant

link between the presence of a Probation Department SRO and the safety of juveniles on

campus.

E. Outreach Newsletter

The Probation Department has recently begun sending out quarterly newsletters to

update community stakeholders on different programs and activities focused on Probation

youth in Lake County. The newsletters are an ideal way to bring in the interest of new

stakeholders and to educate current stakeholders of the activities they are supporting.



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3.3 Forward Focus

For the remainder of 2017, the focus is to continue to evaluate and gather data on programs

and services being offered that target at-risk juveniles and juvenile offenders including their

families. It is the number one goal to continue to strengthen the efforts at reducing recidivism.

Additionally, the agencies involved are united to continue using and improving the

programs described in this plan to make a positive difference in the lives of youth in Lake

County.



Comprehensive Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice PlanPage 2 of 31I. Introduction: Lake County Juvenile Justice System At the beginning of 2017, the Lake County Probation Department began

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